Apologies for the late update, but we are literally OVERWHELMED with things to do! 

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Also, feel free to participate in Katy and Scarlett's competition down in the chapter! *wink, wink*

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I frowned as I descended off the train station and got into the taxi awaiting me.

Crossing my hands before my chest, Alba from the seat beside me blinked. "Cariña, is something the matter?"

"Who the hell calls his cat Mia?!" I pouted, "What was he thinking?!" I huffed.

From before me, my ex-bodyguard seemed to understand who I was referring to, as she chuckled softly. "No way! Señor Ellington got a cat to begin with?!"

I maintained my frown, shaking my head. "His sister got it for him as a get-well-soon present." I mumbled, "And somehow, he out of a sudden decided to name it Mia."

She smiled at me. "Hm? And what bothers you about it exactly?"

I fidgeted, flushing slightly. "Mia is my middle name!" I gestured.

"Yes but..." She arced a brow at me, "It's not like he doesn't like the kitten."

I blinked through my frown. "Ha? How do you know?"

Smirking, she just chuckled at me.

"I just know it for sure."

.

.

.

The moment I stepped into the apartment, I gulped.

Remembering Katy was back from her travel now.

And remembering our latest encounter.

She was seated on the couch in the living room, headphones on and series playing before her.

I approached her in my Daisy attire, without even taking my mask off.

And I stood before her, snapping her attention off the series.

She glanced in my direction, and her look hardened, yet she snapped her now cold chocolate orbs to the screen before her.

Alba exited the room at this, and I got she planned to give us the privacy.

"Oh, so you come here on weekends?" My best friend's dry voice came, "I thought you spent it in his place as well?"

I flinched, and tightened my jaw. "Katherine."

She didn't look up.

"I..." I started slowly, thinking about my words well. "Don't have a valid reasoning or explanation as to why I hid this from you." I gulped, "But you also have to–"

She gestured me off, as she took her headphones off at this, shutting her laptop as she stood up.

"Save your explanations, Charlotte." She spat, and moved to walk away. "I really don't want to listen."

I shuddered, my heart aching at how madly calm her tone seemed.

Blocking her way, I looked straight into her eyes. "Can we not do this?!" I snapped, "Can we please communicate?!"

She scoffed at this, her lips twitching. "What's that? Communicate? You mean like you did with me when you updated me of what was going on with you?" She muttered coldly.

I tightened my jaw, and my eyes started stinging.

She was starting to hurt.

"Katy, please don't do this." My voice shook, as I hardened my gaze at her. "Sit down and let–"

"Charlotte." She cut me off, her voice low and clearly... cold.

And she fixed her numb and damaged chocolate eyes into mine at this.

"I waved my parents goodbye as they left me back when I was four."

My eyes widened, noticing the clear hurt glinting in her eyes.

"And I will not hesitate to cut off anyone showing me signs that they'll do the same."

I shuddered, and a cold tear strolled down her face at this, as she moved to cross me.

I shifted at the same moment, stopping her as I pulled her into a tight hug.

Realizing how hurt she'd been feeling by the fact that she felt we were getting distant.

"I'm never leaving, Kat." I sniffed softly, "Please don't do this to yourself. Please..."

Katy's parents left to work abroad ever since she was four. Although they send her money every now and then, she rarely hears from them, and they never ask about her. Her older sisters soon followed to work abroad, and no one asked about her after that.

She'd spent most of her Christmases over at our place with my family.

I knew what she was talking about.

I knew how bad it all hurt her although she never spoke of it out loud.

She didn't try to resist my hug, but rather her body relaxed.

And I knew she didn't want to push me away.

She was just hurting as she re-lived the feelings of someone distancing themselves from her.

A sob was heard from her, as she shook softly.

"Why did you hide such a thing from me?" She raised her hands shakingly, very hesitant to hug back, "I... Was I not a good friend...?" She sobbed, "And... if I hide this from Leonard now..." She sniffed, "D-Does this make me a bad girlfriend?"

"No!" I tightened my hug around her, as I shook my head. "You're not even my best friend, Katy. You're a sister to me!" I sniffed softly, "It was never my intention to hide from you!"

Straightening, I fixed my orbs into her shaking ones. "You... You were just busy and away, and I couldn't tell you such a thing over the phone!" My eyes tried getting into hers to warm them.

She eyed me back with uncertainty, and her look reflected conflict.

I wet my lips, my breathing steadying down a bit. "And look..." I started, my heart aching as I weighed my choices. "I would definitely not hold you back if... if you choose to tell Leonard about this." I whispered.

Her eyes slightly widened at this, and they mirrored tears like glass. "Huh? But he might–"

"I know." I cut her off, my chest aching at the thought, "I know he... he might tell Mr. Ellington about everything." I gulped, as I hardened my gaze into hers.

"But I would literally pick any consequence to my hiding this from you, over seeing you like this."

My fingertips shook over her face at this, and I shook my face. "I'm so sorry for making you feel like this."

And that was all what Katy needed to just hug me tight, as she sobbed, and her body shook.

And I just hugged back in tears.

The thing about Katy is that she comes off as a tough and sarcastic human to the outside.

But on the inside, like most of us, she had her battles which ate her alive sometimes.

"I'm sorry for not being there either, Cherry." She whispered, "I promise I'll try my best to stick around from now on!"

.

.

.

I gulped as I heard the doorbell, and my phone started buzzing.

From beside me, Katy gulped as she placed the macaroni and cheese skillet in the oven. Eyeing me with uncertainty, she frowned at my attire.

I was still wearing my Daisy clothes.

Because I was expecting a guest.

"Are you sure about this, Cherry?" She eyed me unsurely.

I let out a breath, as I moved out of the kitchen. "I told you what happened, Kat."

Picking up the phone, the voice of Scarlett Thorne, none other than my illegitimate sister, echoed through my senses:

"Aye, Charlotte!" She spoke, and I reached the door at this. "I'm at your doorste–"

Her voice cut off, as I opened the door.

And her eyes widened.

"What the...  actual fuck?" She whispered, as her eyes took in Charlotte –dressed as Daisy.

I flinched not, as I fixed my eyes into hers, and let her in.

Scarlett was casually dressed in her short leather skirt and red crop top. Her stiletto heels echoed as she stepped in, and I shut the door behind her. Her short red hair was back this time, and so was her bright red lipstick.

She didn't walk into the apartment much, but rather turned on her heels as soon as I shut the door behind me, clearly not wanting to make a scene outdoors.

"You... The maid at Ellington's room!" She gestured at me, "The fuck?!"

I pursed my lips, fixing my eyes into hers.

"We need to talk, Scar."

Her expression remained in clear stun, and realization slowly started dawning at her. Her gaze then darkened, as she fixing her eyes into mine, and they stirred with clear chaos and mystery.

My heartbeat paced, and I clenched my jaw, as various scenes from her visit to Mr. Ellington flashed through my mind.

I bit my lips. "Won't you tell me what was up, Scar?" I said, my voice shaking slightly with adrenaline.

From before me, my sister flinched not, as she shrugged, and turned to walk into the living room. "So? I visited your employer to question what happened to the plan and shit like that." She smoothly lied, "Seems to me you're the one with more updates."

I clenched my fists.

"I was watching what happened in the room, Scarlett."

Her pace halted at this, and a shudder crossed her body at how low and dark my voice was, as I fixed her with my stern look.

"From A to Z."

I wet my lips, my heart aching at how... disturbing the scenes were from that encounter.

On so many levels.

I shuddered, yet suppressed the images in an attempt to just not retain them.

Because they did scar me.

My sister turned at this, catching my eyes with hers.

As numbness and ultimate darkness occupied her features and eyes.

Maintaining a strong and unfazed façade, her full lips twitched, as she smirked.

"Ah. So you saw that?"

I gulped at how insensitive her voice was, as she moved back towards me at this. Reaching some steps before me, she kept her gaze locked with mine. "Oh. And don't tell me, you hate me now?" She mused, her voice darkened further.

Passing by me, she started heading back to the door, clearly planning to leave at this.

"Won't say am surprised. Take care, l'il sis."

My heart sank at her words, as I moved behind her, increasing my pace to catch up to her.

I grabbed her wrist, pulling her back madly and determinedly.

I could tell I'd taken her by surprise, as she clearly did not expect me to stop her, and her pace faltered upon my action.

Whipping her in my direction, her eyes darkened, and I grabbed either her shoulders, shaking her. "Little sister, my ass! Enough, Scar!"

My sister flinched, clearly in stun at my action.

I didn't mind that, as I hardened my expression at her, yet my eyes reflected nothing but my sisterly affection towards her.

"I am your little sister, but I am not little anymore!" I snapped, "Take me more seriously, will you?!"

Her eyes shook as she eyed me in disbelief and lack of understanding, as I tightened my grip over her. My hands shook over my shoulders as my mad expression mellowed slightly at this.

"Scarlett." I started carefully, my voice reaching out to her in a plead-like call. "I know you're not okay." I whispered, as I pulled her into a tight hug at this.

"So please, I'm not asking you to hold on, but just... Don't push my hand away when I reach out for you."

And my sister's figure shook slightly at this, as she sniffed over my shoulder, hugging back tightly.

She spoke not, as her entire figure just shook and her hug got tighter, she almost squashed me.

And in a sense, I saw a similarity at this...

Between her and Mr. Ellington.

Those two... both had difficulty expressing what they had on mind.

Which is why their actions and body language spoke volumes.

And somehow the reason behind Rickard Ellington Conway commenting nothing on Scarlett's breakdown back in his room.

And why he did not take her seriously when she... advanced at him.

It was as though he knew that they both expressed their dark points differently and toxically.

I ran my fingers through Scarlett's hair gently, as I let out a breath. "So I prepared us hot chocolate." I mumbled, "Come in."

.

.

.

My sister cried for some good time.

And yet expressed nothing vocally.

An hour or so later, she had her head laid on my lap as I ran my fingers through her hair.

I'd showered and changed my Daisy attire by now, and I was now back to Char in her pink cute pjs.

Scarlett sighed, her tired eyes fixed on nothing in particular.

I eyed her features with a warm smile. She'd taken her make up off after her crying session, and her freckles and natural features stood out prettily at this.

Katy came in at this, having finished lunch with Alba.

"Do you wanna sleepover?" She smiled gently at my sister, "It's been a really long time since I'd seen you, and we both have a lot to catch up on with Charlotte."

Scar eyed her tiredly, and she sighed in a daze as she nodded. "I guess that works for me."

I smiled cheerfully, "Yay! It's been a really long time since I've spent time with you all."

Straightening, Scarlett pulled out a cigarette as she stood up in the window direction.

I bit my lips. "So?" I started, fidgeting as I eyed her. "Wanna share what happened with Sebastian?"

My sister shifted slightly, and Kat blinked at this, frowning. "Sebastian? Wasn't that the hippie lord you told me about, Cherry?"

I nodded at her, keeping my gaze at Scarlett, who seemed to be pondering over the question.

Puffing her cigarette, she hardened her gaze at the starry night outside.

"I told him I don't want his help anymore." She spoke, unfazed. "And that he's dismissed."

I smiled gently at her.

She was really finding a hard time sharing what was up.

"And?" I mumbled softly at her. "Why was that?"

"The dynamic of our relationship was not working anymore." She took a long drag.

I gasped. "Huh? Why?! Did he not protect you in something?!" I rubbed my chin, "Or... Or did you feel he was working with the chairman?"

Scarlett's lips twitched at this, as she eyed me tiredly. "You're not so little anymore, you say?"

I blinked, frowning at her.

Katherine shifted at this, lifting her legs up casually to the table before her. "Oh let me guess what happened and cut the bullshit for you." She eyed Scarlett casually, and Scar eyed her back coldly.

"His lordship got a free night? To phrase this gently?" Shrugging, my best friend arced a brow at her, and a playful smile crossed her lips. 

I blinked.

For some long seconds.

Before I gasped, and color rose up my face as I eyed my best friend.

She... could she be hinting that Scarlett and... and Sebastian...

Ha!?!

My sister shifted, running her hand through her hair as she blew some smoke our of her mouth, and turned away towards the window. "We were both drunk."

I gasped, hitting my seventeenth shade of red so far.  So it's true!!!

"Scarlett!" I shifted. "But... But you told me there's nothing between you guys!"

Her eyes faltered slightly. "There isn't."

I bit my lips, realizing the deep stirring intensity in her gaze at this.

Katherine then sipped from her chocolate. "So that's why you pushed him away?"

Scarlett eyed her slightly, letting out a breath. "Not exactly. We'd agreed we were going to act like the one-night stand did not happen." She spoke, her look harshening.

"But then his dickship started interferring with my business and causing me trouble."

I blinked. "What do you mean by that?"

She shrugged, frowning slightly. "It wasn't part of our agreement for him to suddenly butt in some of my businesses with particular clients. Even if they were being pushy and... forceful while I served them their drinks, it's still none of his business to interfere."

Huh...?

So if I got her correctly... Sebastian interferred when she was serving some client his drink and he started getting... forceful...?

"So if I get you straight," Katy eyed Scar, "You got pissed because you suddenly felt you could depend on him." She smirked at this. 

"And you're scared of this." 

Scar commented not, as she turned away. "Cheh! The fuck would I be scared?" She mouthed. "I just would never accept anyone trying to take control over my life in any way or any aspect."

Both Katherine and I eyed her silently, and she let out a sigh at this, "If a client is bothering me, I'll kick his ass personally. I don't need a lordship or anyone. That's how I've always and will always live." 

I bit my lips at how... lonely she seemed when she said that.

"Meh, anyway!" She shrugged, lighting up another chain cigarette as she eyed me. "So, won't my little sister tell me about her adventures in the majestic room of R.E.C.?"

I flushed, remembering my action earlier.

"I mean, don't hide from me." She smirked shamelessly at me, "How many times have you massaged him? Like for real, I'm curious!"

I jumped in my place, frowning at her. "Scarlett!" I snapped, crossing my hands before my chest. "I... I only kissed him once!"  I fidgeted, then my chest ached slightly as I gazed at my hands in a flush. "I mean he... he doesn't even know how I feel about him."

My sister and Katy went silent at this.

As they gazed into me, flabbergasted.

Katherine was first to break the ice as she cleared her throat.

"Wait, you mean... you realize how you feel about him?"

I blinked for some seconds.

Before heat rose to my cheeks again.

Shoot!

I didn't tell Katy and Scarlett yet!

Biting my lips nervously, I realized I had no choice but to tell them. "You see I know this... might come as a surprise to you guys, but..." I fidgeted. "I realized that I probably may have fallen for Rickard Ellington Conway."

No word greeted my announcement, making me even more self-conscious.

Then, they both erupted in laughter.

I blinked at them with a frown. Hey! The hell was so funny?

Scarlett was first to smirk at me. "Well, gotta say I never saw this coming!"

Katherine chuckled as well. "Yep, really surprising and hard to notice!"

I deepened my frown, "Hey! You two are mocking me!"

Katy kept her gentle smile at me. "Baby, it took you a good time to get honest with yourself, eh?" She arced her brow at me.

"What do you mean?" I crossed my hands before my chest as I pouted, "Was I this obvious?"

My sister shifted at this, moving a strand of my hair behind my ear as she eyed me gently. "Meh! Who cares about that now! Tell us how are your times with him?" Mischief danced in her orbs at this.

I flushed. "Huh? Wh-What's that supposed to mean?!"

Katy and Scar looked at each other at this.

For some seconds...

Before playfulness and mischief surged through their eyes at this.

"I mean," Scar stretched, taking a long drag from her cigarette as she smiled dirtily at me. "That kiss is just the beginning from now on." She mused.

I frowned, "I'm really not getting what you're hinting at!"

Katherine grinned at this, eyeing me